• Instrument Availability: WMKO will endeavor to make the instrument available to observers for calibrations that do not require moving the telescope by 2:00 pm HST on business days and 4:00 pm HST on weekends and holidays. On days with heavy summit workloads due to extensive reconfiguration or emergency repair work, it may not be possible to meet these goals. In those cases, we will coordinate closely with observers to make the instrument available as soon as possible. Before starting the instrument control software, observers should always verify that the instrument has been released for their use by checking the Summit Instrument Activities Schedule.

    Note that in the mornings, it is normal that the first day crew shift arrives around 7 a.m. At any point after this time, you can expect them to enter the dome, turn lights on, move the telescope, etc. If you plan ahead of time for extending calibrations past this time, and such day crew activity will impact those calibrations, please let us know in advance, preferably at least four weeks in advance. We will then get that request into the day crew schedule. If you decide during the night that you will be impacted by day crew activity beyond 7 a.m., let the OA know and they will leave a note for the day crew.

  • Telescope Availability: WMKO will endeavor to make the telescope available to observers for taking dome flats or other calibrations that require moving the telescope or darkening the dome by 5:00 pm HST on all days. Again, if heavy summit workloads preclude meeting this goal, we will coordinate closely with observers to make the telescope available as soon as possible. Also, see the comment above on morning access to the telescope.

  • Dome Opening: The domes are normally not open at any time while the Sun is above the Mauna Kea horizon. Exceptions are granted only when the dome is pointed so that sunlight does not directly enter the dome. AO observers may request early opening by 15 minutes, again as long as sunlight is not directly entering the dome. Contact your Support Astronomer in advance if you want to take advantage of this policy. The LGS-AO laser is not allowed to propagate to sky outside of the 8° twilight times.

    Any exceptions to this policy are permitted only by specific approval in advance from the Observatory Director, or the Observing Support Manager.